The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Hall of Honor
- Induction:
- 2014
- Class:
- 2004
The 2004 Doak Walker Award winner (nation’s top RB), Cedric Benson rushed for 1,834 yards and 19 TDs in helping Texas post an 11-1 record, No. 4 national ranking and a 38-37 victory over Michigan in the Rose Bowl as a senior. He also was a first-team All-American and was voted the ABC National Player of the Year. With 5,540 rushing yards, Benson ranks second only to Ricky Williams on the UT all-time rushing list and stands eighth in NCAA history. The two-time first-team All-Big 12 pick is the only player in Longhorn history to rush for 1,000 yards in four straight seasons and just one of eight players in NCAA history to accomplish that feat. His 64 career rushing TDs rank sixth in NCAA history and 67 total TDs stand eighth. His 1,112 carries are the most-ever at UT and his 25 career 100-yard rushing games are second-most in school history. Benson rushed for 1,360 yards (No. 7 on UT all-time season list) and a career-high 21 TDs (No. 3 on UT all-time season) as a junior and 1,293 yards (No. 9 on UT all-time season list) as a sophomore. The Horns posted a 10-3 record and No. 11 final ranking his junior year and 11-2 mark and No. 6 ranking as a sophomore. Benson made an immediate impact at Texas, earning Freshman All-America and Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors after rushing for UT freshman records 1,053 yards and 12 TDs in 2001. Benson was twice voted UT’s offensive MVP. The No. 3 pick by the Chicago Bears in the 2005 NFL Draft, Benson played eight NFL seasons and rushed for 6,017 yards and 32 TDs while catching 120 passes for 833 yards and one TD. A starter in 71 of 96 career games, he posted three straight 1,000-yard seasons for the Bengals in 2009 (1,251), 2010 (1,111) and 2011 (1,067). He rushed for 647 yards in helping the Bears to the 2006 NFC Championship and a berth in Super Bowl XLI. Benson passed away on August 17, 2019.
